Artist Manager

Being in the film industry, artist management tends to occur more within the actor realm. There are two types of actors in the industry, those who can direct themselves and those who need direction. The more professional ones know how to direct themselves and do it correctly. The others are more inexperienced and require a better manager or director to help push their limits.

Not all inexperienced actors are bad however. There is the classic story of how Marilyn Monroe who was too shy to become the sexy idol we know today. To help her, managers pushed her to show more emotion, more sex appeal and to block the audience overall. Blocking is a big part of an actors life because it gives them cues where to go and mentally blocking allows them the time to become the character themselves.

The manager’s job is to fully understand that actors are on a different planet emotionally. Some managers’ baby their actors while others push hard to get what they want. A good example of a pushy manager is from the recent movie 'Rock of Ages' where Tom Cruise has a manager that is in it for himself. Granted this is a music manager but in a sense they fill the same kind of emotional role for their client. 

Overall it is important as a manager to embrace the talent that you have in front of you. If you help and guide them to their potential, you will always be successful. If you take away their pride, you will only dig a whole for yourself.

As an artist, you must be willing and confident in your art and pushing it to the limits. People will criticize no matter what your profession so you stick your head up high and listen to your gut. If you have chosen the right manager, they will make the decision that they know will help you and make you happy. 

Negotiation Station

Negotiations are apart of everyday life and within a producer's job, negotiations are the main reason for your job. Producers approach or are approached by potential clients that have an idea and want it made into something. Together, they come up with a solution that will give both parties what they want. How do you know what techniques to use in a negotiation? Going to our friend YouTube and Google, there are some great videos that can help.

The first video that I have found that I really enjoy is actually a webinar, something that is being used more and more everyday to communicate with more people at a 'real' time basis. To get to the goods, please for to the time 5:48 as the speakers take time introducing themselves first. The video uses the example of the bank system and how contracts are used within a bank, however these concepts can easily be substituted for anything. I find it really interesting within the video that they break down the meaning of contracts and how to effectively use vendors.

Within this next video that is from Ted helps show how to take the personal aspects out of a conflict. You should go to the balcony of the discussion and keep your focus on the prize. This speaker has traveled around the world to help solve conflicts and brings together stories of everyone's culture showing that our stories guide our emotions and our reasoning for our negotiations. He describes that we need to become mediators in everything we do to understand others and calls it the third side to life. This is a powerful speech that can change the way negotiations are conducted, the way humans see one another.

In this last video, it is set in a classroom where the professor discuss how good cop, bad cop works within a negotiation chamber. He starts out by saying that in the police handbook, it is said to use this technique in interrogations because it worked every time. Like in a negotiation however, it caused confusion with the other party and caused them to break down. When it goes to 23 minutes, he starts to talk about how to make it better for both parties instead of one party being short changed and how to react if someone is doing it to you.

Overall, I learned a few different techniques to how to handle negotiations from a 3rd party or mediator. Also I feel that when someone tries to play good cop, bad cop to play it back to them and tell them you know what is going on. I think the best think I have taken away from these videos is always being on the balcony and being calm and honest with who is in front of me. No matter what kind of negotiation I am in, to be cheerful and kind and optimistic.